Living in Your New Community
University Housing seeks to foster an environment that promotes opportunities for students to become civically, socially, and academically responsible individuals who are engaged members of their current and future communities. Research shows that living in a community with people from different backgrounds and interests is an integral part of the college experience. Our goal is for students to learn and grow from their experience living in University Housing. The guidelines and information below will support that process.
Please note all SIUE campuses are smoke-free. Smoking is prohibited in all University buildings, structures, grounds, parking areas, sidewalks, and walkways on the campuses of Edwardsville, East St.Louis, and Alton. All tobacco products include, but are not limited to, cigarettes, cigars, e-cigarettes, and all forms of smokeless tobacco. The law applies to all members of the campus community, including visitors.
Achieving Successful Community Relationships
Roommate Relationships
A successful roommate relationship begins with being a good roommate yourself. As a member of the University Housing community, students have the responsibility to:
- Respect each other’s privacy
- Respect themselves and others
- Communicate openly with their roommate and discuss potential conflicts before they get out of hand
- Keep their living area clean as outlined in the Living Guide
- Lock doors and maintain personal/possession safety
- Maintain a comfortable environment for sleep and study purposes
- Treat each other’s possessions with care and ask before borrowing personal items
- Respect differences
- Compromise
- Enlist the help of Residence Life staff when a difficult roommate situation arises
- Be kind and civil with no intent to harm
- Check with each other before having overnight guests
- Pass on messages to their roommate on time
- Abide by all University Housing policies
Roommate conflict can be difficult and uncomfortable to deal with. However, there are benefits to experiencing conflict; these types of situations provide us with opportunities to strengthen our communication skills, better understand our values, and learn to compromise and negotiate all of these are necessary real-world skills. Space changes are a last resort in dealing with roommate conflict. However, space changes are considered after three weeks into the beginning of the semester. Contact your RA for more information about the space change process.
Noise
University Housing is not only a place to live, it is a place to study and pursue academic interests. Maintaining a positive environment for students is of utmost importance. The following guidelines are set to best create that environment.
- Noise levels in and around University Housing are expected to be moderate and conducive to a positive study environment. The right to study and sleep is greater than the right to make noise. Roommates and neighbors should reach a general agreement about acceptable noise levels to prevent conflict.
- Conversation and sound from stereos/radios, televisions, etc. should be kept subdued so that they cannot be heard outside the living unit.
- Conversations in hallways, lounges, and stairwells must be conducted quietly.
- University Housing staff may confront residents who are making too much noise, even if they have not received a complaint.
- Residents who are confronted by University Housing staff or other residents because of noise levels are expected to immediately reduce the noise to an acceptable level.
- Courtesy Hours should be observed 24 hours a day. If someone complains about the noise, it is noise. Residents who are frequently confronted about noise complaints may be subject to discipline.
- Quiet Hours are established for more intense “quietness.” Sunday – Thursday, Quiet Hours are from 10 p.m. – 9 a.m. On Friday and Saturday, Quiet Hours are from midnight – noon. All noise should be kept to a minimum during these times.
Abide by the community noise guidelines yourself. Your neighbors are more likely to respect your needs if you respect theirs in return.
Deal with problems personally. If you have a problem with the noise made by another, the best course of action is to try and deal with the situation one-on-one. Approach the situation with a positive attitude. Initiating personal contact can be the first step to a lasting solution. If the effort fails, members of the University Housing staff can step in and help mediate a solution.
Compromise. Try to see the other person’s side. The best solution to a consistent noise problem is often effectively combining both opinions and using part of each to come up with a solution.
Understanding others needs to study. As part of an educational institution, maintaining an academically supportive atmosphere is very important in University Housing. Always keep in mind that studying is a large part of what residents do in the community.
Understand others need to live a normal life. On the opposite side of the coin, humans have other needs besides studying. Be tolerant of others' normal living noises and habits. University Housing is home to most people and they should be comfortable living there.
Guest and Visitation Policies
Guests will not be permitted in any University Housing living area. Guests are individuals who do not reside in your residential community. Your residential community is considered your assigned residence hall. In Cougar Village Apartments, guests are not permitted who do not live in Cougar Village. This includes both daytime and overnight guests.
Unauthorized Guests
All residents of a living unit are subject to discipline if unauthorized guests are discovered by University Housing staff. All overnight guests are considered unauthorized unless the resident makes a written request that is signed by his/her roommate for approval to the Community Director.
Desk Policies
The Front Desk in your residence hall is a great resource. Desk Managers (DMs) are student leaders hired to staff the Front Desks in each housing community. These students go through extensive training to best serve the residents in their area. Desk Managers are responsible for the safety and security of their area by enforcing housing policy, checking in and out guests, providing lock-out keys, and parking permits, and distributing packages among other important tasks. DMs are also familiar with Housing policy, University and Housing programs, tutoring resources, and much more.
Before entering the residential area, all residents must swipe their Cougar Card in the electronic card reader at the front desk. Front Desk Managers/Housing staff reserve the right to inspect a Cougar Card when swiped at the front desk. This is to confirm the bearer of the card is the rightful possessor of the I.D. card.
Involvement in Your Community
Residents have many opportunities to get involved and leave their mark in their community. By actively participating in building activities, attending your wing meetings, and joining your wing for community dinners, you will be well on your way to successful community relationships.
Area Council and RHA
Residents also have the opportunity to be part of their Area Council or Residence Housing Association (RHA). Area Councils are groups in each living area that want to impact their residential experience by planning events for the residents to take part in, developing leadership skills, and creating lasting memories for this year! Area Councils have historically done events such as the Prairie Hall Haunted House, Cougar Village Fall Fest, Bluff Hall’s Back to Kindergarten Night, Evergreen’s Rock the Dock, Woodland Hall’s Woodstock, and many more! Residence Housing Association (RHA) is the voice and representation of residential students at SIUE. Representing 3,500 students from all five residential areas, RHA remains dedicated to improving on-campus living and objectively providing a voice for the concerns of our residents.
Families in University Housing
University Housing is dedicated to fostering a safe and respectful living environment for all members of our community. Out of concern for the safety and well-being of minor children living in Cougar Village, University Housing has developed the following expectations and guidelines regarding child supervision in conjunction with the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) and SIUE Police Department:
As outlined in the University Housing Living Guide, parents and guardians are expected to provide appropriate supervision for all children living in University Housing.
No child under the age of 10 should be left unsupervised at home or in the community.
A child 10 years of age or older may be left unattended if the child is developmentally ready. Being ready to stay home alone or being ready to babysit other children means your child can understand the following information:
- Home address/telephone number
- How to contact parent(s)/guardian(s)
- How to contact the police and/or ambulance
- What to do if either him/herself or another child injured
- What to do in an emergency (fire, intruder, inclement weather, etc.)
